Vehicle-spring



(No ModeL) J. PRIEST.

VEHICLE SPRING.

Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JORAM PRIEST, OF GROSSE POINT, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

aPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,978, dated ldaroh 31,18 85.

Application tiled October 10, 1884. (No model.)

of which are provided with half-elliptic sidesprings and theinvention consists in the pcculiar means employed for attaching the ends of these springs to the bolster or head-block at the forward end and to the axle at the rear end in such a manner that the bearing of the springs at these points will be susceptible of an oscillating or rocking movement upon the clips which secure them to place, while at the same time provision is made in securing the springs to these bearing-plates whereby such springs are free to adjust themselves by 1ongitudinal expansion, and in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and various combinations of the parts, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view of the front and rear aXleofasoc-alled side-bar runninggear, showing the manner of attaching my springs to the same. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective of one of the bearingplates at the rear end, also showing one end of the equalizer-bar. Fig. 3 is a detached perspeetive of one of the bearing-plates; and Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, showing the manner of securing the'spring.

In the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification, A represents the forward axle,and B the rear axle, of any of the so-called side-bar constructions provided with the bolster C and side bars, D.

E represents half-elliptic springs, the forward ends of which are secured to the bearing-plates F,which in turn are pivotally secured upon the heads of the clips G, which are secured to the bolster O, as in the ordinary manner. The bearing-plates F are provided with one or more elongated slots, a, (though two are preferable,) through which bolts 1) pass from the bottom and engage in 1 any suitable manner with the superimposed spring E. v

H represents other. bearingplates, one being secured to the rear end of each of the springs E substantially in the manner described above for securing the bearing-plates F. These bearingplates are likewise pivotally secured upon the heads of the clips I, the ends of the equalizingbar J serving as tize bolt for making this connection, as will be clearly seen upon reference to Fig. l of the drawings. The inner ends of these hearingplates H are each provided with an eye, 0, to receive an arm, d. of the equalizing-rod.

Upon reference to the drawings and the description above given it will be re ullly understood at a glance that the side springs. E,

tion of their lengths upon their respective bearing-plates, and that they will therefore equalize and adjust themselves to the weight which may be superimposed upon them,while at the same time it is a well-known fact that a torsional equalizing-bar connecting opposite springs, as herein shown, has the elfe-ct of depressing the springs equally, or, in other words, of compelling the one spring to follow the movements of the other.

It will be observed that the bearingplates F and H are provided with up wardl y-projecting flanges, between which the ends of the springs rests, and these flanges are for the purpose of keeping the parts in alignment; and while I have described and shown the employment of bolts and slots in the bearingplates for securing the springs to place,it is evident that the flanges of these bearing-plates may be formed in the manner of clip-flanges, with a stop at the rear, within whichthe springs can have their movement,without departing from the spirit of my invention.

l'Vhat I claim as my invention is- I 1. A vehicle-spring the ends of which have substantially flat bearings upon plates pivotally secured, as described, such springs being free to move in the direction of their length over the flat surfaces of said plates, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In combination with a semi-elliptic spring, E, the bearing-plates F H, pivotally secured to the clips G I, when constructed substanare susceptible of an expansion in the direc tially in the manner and for the purposes detiallyinthemannerand for thepurposes speciscribed. fied.

3. In avehicle and in combination with the 1 axles A B and b 01ster C, the side semi-elliptic Q PRIEST 5 springs, E, oscillating bearing-plates F H, Witnesses:

clips G I, and equalizing bar J, when con- H. S. SPRAGUE, structed, arranged, and operating substan- E. SOULLY. 

